And they are going to be infinitely better and less expensive.
Photo credit : Chip bright
If the new consoles are likely to be released in November, PC gamers will be served long before with the arrival of the new generation of graphics cards from Nvidia and AMD.
Nvidia has already announced its conference for September 9, and the 3080Ti would be marketed immediately from September 17. The RTX 3080 and RTX 3070 will follow, arriving in October, then in November the RTX 3060 will finally be released, which should be the most sold model. On the AMD side, September is also mentioned for the announcement or even the launch of its new range under RDNA2 architecture.
For both manufacturers, the mid- to high-end target is 4K at 60 FPS with ray tracing enabled, something the RTX 2080Ti is incapable of. Nvidia will also offer DLSS 2, while AMD will use similar technology. This technique of providing anti-aliasing using AI offers spectacular results, increasing performance in games by up to 20%. With the generalization of this technology which will be implemented when a game is released and no longer a few months later, we can therefore expect even if the power is similar between two generations on paper (1080Ti VS 3060) to a difference spectacular in terms of performance.
The top of the range should be the must for 4K at 120 FPS or 1440p at 240 FPS, but also for 35 / 9th type Samsung Odyssey G9 screens. We’re talking about a 3080TI 40% more powerful than the 2080Ti, and a 3080 that would also beat the 2080 Ti by 10%. The 3070 should be close to the 2080Ti.
At AMD, benchmarks of no name AMD cards have been identified and report a power at least 30% higher than the 2080Ti for the high-end AMD. Other variations are planned, and we can bet AMD will aim for an equivalent power by catching up on the price.
Photo Credit: AMD SubReddit
An expected price drop
Miners did a lot of harm by driving up the price of graphics cards in 2017-2018, which additionally suffered from a memory shortage. Fortunately, the release of processors dedicated to mining and the rise in electricity prices for this profession have eased the pressure on players.
It was without counting on Nvidia in 2018 and the absence of AMD. By being the only one to offer a 2080Ti capable of displaying all games in 4K 60 FPS, Nvidia was able to demand a minimum of $ 1,500 for its high-end, even if the average price often soars around $ 2,000. It was not until the release of the RX 5700XT at AMD that Nvidia’s prices were revised downwards on the RTX 2070.
With this new generation, the two manufacturers will arrive with graphics cards of equivalent power and which offer similar technology, which will force Nvidia to lower its price requirements. However, it’s AMD’s top end that might turn out to be the nice surprise.
Unlike Nvidia, AMD does not send developers to assist publishers for free, and does not employ an army to program the various features of Geforce Experience. AMD can therefore afford to post 100 to 200 $ less at equivalent power.
On the other hand, leaks tell Nvidia of an overpowered RTX 3090 doped with 24GB of memory, but at a price hovering around $ 1,800 to $ 2,000. Nvidia knows that it has an audience that can afford this kind of product, but should not forget the other players who might be attracted to AMD, including the 3080Ti. The idea is therefore not stupid, to offer a monster of power inaccessible to ordinary people, but which will serve as a showcase and ensure the role occupied by the 2080Ti.
The 3080Ti would revert to what the 1080Ti was. However, if AMD sells tight prices, the horsepower is indeed within 10%, and the difference between its top-of-the-range and the 3080Ti exceeds $ 500, it could take the stake. Especially since the success of its Ryzen has allowed it to win among players who swear by Intel / Nvidia. Knowing that AMD’s drivers work, come out at the same time as Nvidia’s, and that their software allows basic Geforce Experience features such as recording,
The new Radeons could therefore not impose themselves, but gain market share. As a reminder, in 2012, the Radeon 7970Ghz Edition was more powerful than the GTX 680Ti while being less expensive.
Intel l’outsider?
For its part, Intel has long assured us that it has an architecture capable of competing with Nvidia and AMD. Except that until now, the founder has come up against the barrier of 10 nanometers which is already causing much trouble to its processors, to the point where AMD seems to have a boulevard in front of it with its Ryzen 3000s which have become essential.
In order to compete, Intel will entrust the burning of its 7-nanometer graphics cards to TSMC, the Taiwanese founder. However, Intel’s main interest is to keep up with the drivers. In addition, it cannot afford to play divas as with its processors, and to offer higher prices, including against AMD. In any case, the success of Intel’s pilots will first and foremost determine future prices.
The entry of Intel in 2021, associated with a period when competing graphics cards will be available in number could lead to a further reduction in price if they prove to be competitive and their drivers offer the same performance as AMD. If the drivers aren’t up to the job, no matter what the price, their graphics cards won’t sell. On the other hand, if they do the job, Intel will also have to offer an attractive price to encourage players to take the plunge.
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